La Grange –Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital has established a Legacy of Generosity display to honor those who established and helped the hospital to grow as a local institution.

The new wall features plaques and photos of people important to the history of Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital. Many were once located in different parts of the hospital’s campus, said Brett Skeen, La Grange Memorial Hospital Foundation Executive Director. As the hospital has changed, some of those locations have been removed or relocated.

The donor wall, established by the La Grange Memorial Hospital Foundation, collects all those honors and memorials in one location.

“We have a very rich heritage of community support of the hospital and its mission,” Skeen said. “For instance, the original 12 founders helped guarantee hospital salaries during its first year until the hospital was able to turn a profit. We wanted to honor that history.”

The land the hospital was built on was originally donated to memorialize local soldiers who served in the two great World Wars, Skeen said. Many other donations over the years were made in the same vein, and it’s why “Memorial” remains part of the hospital’s name.

Many of the plaques now on display on the donor wall illustrate that memorial theme.

“One plaque memorializes the men who answered President Lincoln’s call to put down the rebellion,” Skeen said, referring to a memorial honoring local U.S. Civil War veterans.

“Those familiar with local history will recognize many names on the wall,” Davis said.

“This is an opportunity for us to again say thanks to all those benefactors that are listed on the display, as well as those who are not but also had a share in creating a world class hospital,” he added.

As the hospital continues to change, the donor wall can be updated. Skeen said more panels can be added to the wall, so community supporters are remembered in the years to come.

“We are proud to celebrate the unique sense of obligation this community has shown to provide quality health care services to their neighbors in need,” Skeen said.